BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES
JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...Sophomore center
TAQUAN ABDULLAH (Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley) netted a career-high 15 points, and
New Jersey City University held an opponent to 40 or fewer points for the third time this season as the Gothic Knights, playing their best full-season of defense since 1981-82, ripped Berkeley College, 74-40, in a non-conference game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on “Coach Charlie Brown Court.”
NJCU, which is 2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs, improves to 12-10 overall. Berkeley drops its 10th straight, falling to 3-17. The Knights also limited an opponent to 50 or less points for the fifth time this season and are allowing just 61.1 points per contest through 22 games. The 1981-82 team allowed 60.1 per game over 25 games.
The win marked the 84thtime in school history NJCU has defeated an opponent by at least 30 points and the second time this season. NJCU shot 15-of-21 from the line (.714) and had a 29-4 margin in bench points. Meanwhile, NJCU, which had more steals (13) than turnovers (12), owned a 29-12 margin in points off giveaways and a 36-14 cushion in points in the paint.
Abdullah, whose previous high was 14 points at Farmingdale State College on December 16, 2008, had a game-best 15 points in 24 minutes, shooting 7-of-8 from the line, while adding five rebounds. Freshman small forward (Trenton, NJ/Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.)) chipped in nine points (4-9 FG) and two steals in 10 minutes.
Also for NJCU, senior shooting guard KYLE INGRAM (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) collected seven points (3-7 FG) and seven rebounds (six defensive) while senior point guard JOSH LOPEZ (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary's (Jersey City)) added eight points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3FG) and four assists in 14 minutes. His second triple tied him for second place in school history with Mark Washington (2002-06) for career three-pointers with 160.
The Knights also received five assists and three steals from junior guard COREY DIXON (Linden, NJ/David Brearley), eight points (3-4 FG) from junior guard ANTOINE ROGERS (Trenton, NJ/Ewing) and six defensive rebounds and five points from freshman power forward ISAIAH JOHNSON (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus).
The Bulldogs were led by forward Donovan Black (Morristown, NJ/Morristown), who finished with a double-double of 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds (12 defensive) in 37 minutes. Guard Jamal Salaam (Newark, NJ/St. Anthony's) had 11 points and five rebounds. However, the two players combined for 15 of Berkeley's 20 turnovers.
NJCU, which never trailed, limited the visitors to 24.5 percent shooting overall (13-53) and just 6-of-27 (.222) in the second half. Berkeley shot 1-of-10 from three-point range.
In the first half, NJCU led by just one, 9-8, before scoring nine consecutive points for an 18-8 edge. Caver had the first eight straight for NJCU during the initial run.
Salaam made two foul shots to cut it to three, 18-15, with 10:49 left before NJCU quickly put the game out of reach with a 14-0 eruption to gain a 32-15, 17-point margin with 7:07 left in the first half. Ingram had seven points and Albright four more during the spurt. NJCU shot 53.3 percent in the first half (16-30) and led by 21 at the break, 43-22. Berkeley never challenged NJCU in the second half. The Knights led by as many as 36 points in the final minute as all 13 players who dressed saw action, with 12 scoring.
Weather-permitting, NJCU will return to action on Wednesday, February 10 at 8 p.m. against Montclair State University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division game in Montclair, NJ. NJCU must win to stay alive in the NJAC Tournament race. Berkeley visits Maritime College on February 9 at 7 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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BERKELEY
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Score
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74
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40
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Half-Time Score
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43
|
22
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Field Goal Percentage
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.424 (28-66)
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.245 (13-53)
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Three-Point Percentage
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.273 (3-11)
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.100 (1-10)
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Free Throw Percentage
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.714 (15-21)
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.464 (13-28)
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Rebounds (O-D-T)
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14-31-45
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16-28-44
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Assists
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16
|
4
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Turnovers
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12
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20
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Blocks
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7
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5
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Steals
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13
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5
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Fouls
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21
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16
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Largest Lead
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36
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None
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Points in the Paint
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36
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14
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Points off Turnovers
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29
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10
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Second Change Points
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12
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6
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Fast Break Points
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12
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6
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Bench Points
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29
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4
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